UN agencies and NGOs providing life-saving services to South Sudanese at two UN compounds

Aid agencies are now responding to the needs of thousands of civilians affected by the recent armed violence in South Sudan – including an estimated 20,000 people in two UN peacekeeping compounds in Juba. That, according to the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan Toby Lanzer.

In a statement Monday, Lanzer said non-governmental organizations and UN agencies are providing life-saving services in the two bases, including water and sanitation, shelter and emergency healthcare to people displaced by the armed violence.

Emergency latrines are being dug, high-energy biscuits provided to meet urgent nutritional needs of children and other vulnerable people, and emergency surgical supplies, drugs, and reproductive health kits delivered to hospitals around Juba. Aid agencies have also been able to deliver food to some 7,000 people who have sought shelter in the UN peacekeeping base in Bentiu, Unity State.

According to the statement, while assistance is underway in these two cities, the humanitarian coordinator is also concerned about thousands of people affected by the past week's violence in other parts of the country. He said the situation is particularly bad in Jonglei and Unity states, where fighting has displaced thousands of civilians.

Humanitarian Coordinator Toby Lanzer said "We are looking at a massive increase in need" and he was "engaging all parties to ensure that civilians are protected and that aid workers are able to access people who need our help".

He called on donors to make resources available so that agencies can bring in managers, specialists and supplies without delay".